Sugar-cane stripper and topper.



WITNESSES F. M. GOCKRELL, JR. SUGAR CANE STRIPPER AND TOPPER. i

APPLICATION FILED Nov.11,1912.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

4 SHEBTS-SHBET l.

IN VENTOR F. M. GUGKRELL, JR. SUGAR GANE STRIPPER AND TOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED 11011.11, 1912.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11, 1912- 1',118,636. Patented N0v.24,1914.

IV MP5 P A 9 24 o u Q o n A /2 2/ WITNESSES IN VEN TOR F. M. GOCKRELL, JR. SUGAR CANE STRIPPER AND TOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED N0v.11.1912.

1 1 1 8,6 36. Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

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WIT SSES IN VEN TOR WZwCa/mw n Bv r A TTORNE Y "UNrrnp s'rArEs 'PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS M. COOKRELL, JR., OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO COCKRELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LIMITED, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, A COR PORATION OF LOUISIANA.

SUGAR-CANE STRIPPER AND TOPPER.

Application filed November 11, 1912.

To all whom. it may concern Be it known that I, F RANCIs M. COCKRELL, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, county of Jackson, and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Sugar-Cane ,Strippers and Toppers, of which the following 1s a specification.

This invention relates to sugar cane strip-4 pers and toppers.

The object of the present invention is the provision of an improved and novel sugar cane stripper and topper which Will satisfactorily and successfully accomplish the work of stripping and topping under any and all of the varying conditions involved inharvesting sugar cane, and with this end in view, the invention consists, first, in novel means adapted to both strip the leaves from the stalks and advance them after they have been severed; second, novel means adapted for arranging or adjusting the stalks of varying` lengths so that they may be to ped at any desired and uniform distance 'rom their upper ends; third, novel means for topping the adjusted stalks; fourth, novel combined stripping and conveying means combined in a new manner with novel stalk adjusting means and with topping means, whereby the growing cane on being severed is automatically' stripped of its leaves and conveyed intothe machine by the stripping mechanism, is afterward adjusted to insure topping of the stripped stalks at any desired and uniform distance from their upper ends and is conveyed to the tomiing means by the joint action of thc stripping means and the adjusting means; further, in various improved and n'ovel instrumentalities which are fully set forth hereinafter and recited in the appended claims, an embodiment of the complete invention being shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a front elevation; Fig. 3, a top plan view; and Fig. 4i, a bottom plan view.

The main frame 1 is surmounted by superstructure 2 and is supported on axles 3 and l having, respectively, rear traction wheels 5 an'd front steering wheels G, the latter heilig mounted in any preferred manner for steering purposes. The steering Wheels 6 may `'be turned by a suitable hand Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24C, 1911i.

Serial No. 730,640.

`the machine, I have found it desirable to use an internal combustion engine 7 having a power shaft 8 extending longitudinally of the machine and provided with a clutch 9 of any approved construction. The shaft 8 carries a worm 10 which meshes with and is adapted to drive a worm gear 11 (Fig. l) on a suitably mounted countershaft l2, countershaft l2 being provided on its end parts with sprocket wheels 13 which, through the lnedium of sprocket chains 14, drive sprocket wheels 15 attached to the hubs of the traction wheels 5, whereby the machine is propelled, under the control of clutch 9 by a lever 16 on rocker shaft 17 (Fig. 3). The shaft 8 has another clutch 18 for coupling it to a short shaft which car-` ries a bevel gear 19. A rocker shaft 62 and a hand lever 61 afford means for controlling the clutch 18, and as the bevel gear 19 drives the cutting, stripping, adjusting and topping mechanisms, the lever (31 affords means for quickly and simultaneously starting or stopping them. Suitably journaled `in the frame l is a countershaft 21 which carries bevel gears 20, 22 and 3ft, the gear 2() meshing with gear lil. The gears mesh with bevel gears '23 on horizontal shafts Q1 for driving the stalk cutters and the drawing-in mechanism. The bevel gears 34 mesh with bevel gears on shafts 36 which are provided with bevel gears 37 meshing with bevel gears 3S on shafts 39 for driving the stripping, stalk-adjusting, topping and discharge mechanisms. (7)11 the forward ends of shaft 2i are bevel pinions 25 meshing in bevel gears 2G on vertically arranged shafts 27 which carry circular stalk cutters 28 placed opposite each other with their edges slightly overlapping (Fig. i). Carried by the upper ends of shafts 27 are sprocket front receiving part of the machine frame 1. The forward stretches of the chains 30 converge inwardly and then run parallel (Fig. 4), enabling the lingers on the chains to properly draw in the growing sugar cane and to direct it to the cutters 2S.

The superstructure 2 has a part 2a composed of upper and lower pairs of parallel frame members arranged at an angle, it may be l-L, more or less, to the horizontal. J ournaled in suitable bearings on this framework 2a thereto and to the horizontal, preferably at 450, more or less, to the horizontal, are the shafts of cylindrical wire stripping brushes 42, which shafts have bevel gears meshing with bevel gears 40 on shaft 39. rlhestripping brushes 42 are arranged in pairs, the brushes of veach pair being opposite with their axes preferably parallel and the axes of all of the brushes being parallel to each other. The brushes, preferably, do not touch each other, leaving a narrow gap 42a- (Figs. 2 and between the brushes of all of the pairs. The two lowermost pairs of brushes 42 are provided with bevel gears lila meshing with bevel gears 40 on a shaft 39 suitably mounted on frame members 2a and carrying a bevel gear 38? meshing with a bevel gear 3T on the third from the lowest of the pairs of brushes, whereby the two lowermost brushes 42 are driven. The lowermostpairs of brushes are disposed over the bifurcated part of front frame l so that they are adapted to cooperate with the growing cane and to commence to both strip the leaves therefrom and tend to bring the stalks to an upright position as they are pulled in by the chains 30, even before the cutters 28 have severed the stalks.

On the upper ends of shafts 39 are bevel gears 43 which drive bevel gears 44 on shafts 45, the upper ends of the shafts being provided with bevel gears 46 meshing f with bevel gears 47 on the lower ends of vertical shafts 48 which are suitably mounted in bearings carried by the framemembers 2a. Carried by the shafts 48 and adjustable up and down thereon by any suitable means such as set screws, so that they can be fixed at different heights on said shafts, are circular topping cutters 49 placed opposite each other with their edges slightly overlapping. One of the shafts'48 carries a bevel gear y 5.0 (Fig. 3) which drives a bevel gear 51` on a transverse shaft 52 mounted in bearings on frame members 2a; Carried by the shaft 52 is a sprocket wheel 53. Driven bythe sprocket wheel 53 is an endlessapron 54 `having proJectlons or fingers 55 disposed at intervals of the length thereof, the forward reach of the apron running around an idler sprocket 56 The endless adjusting apron 54 is disposed in the ysame plane or in line with .ing stationary guides 65.

and arranged angularly' the space 42a between the brushes 42, but it is considerably wider than that space. Oppositely positioned endless and parallel toothed conveyer cha-ins 58 having toothed projections 5%), run around the sprocket wheels- 57 on the shafts 48 and idler sprockets 60 carried by lshafts journaled in the framework 2a. The apron is flanked by and runs between longitudinally extend- The fingers or bristles of the stripping brushes 42 may be made of any suitable material combining flexibility and elasticity with sufficient stiffness to elevate the stalks, and while I preferably use tempered steel wire bristles, I do not limit myself tothe use of such bristles.

All of the rotary stripping brushes 42 are adapted to revolve in a direction which will cause them to strip the stalks upwardly and i alsoV elevate them; the top-adjusting apron 54 has its lower stretch adapted to travel rearwardly, and the discharge conveyers 58 have their inner stretches adapted to travel rearwardly.

The operationof the machine is as follows: rl`he machine is propelled into the field by the engine 7 and is controlled and guided by the operator occupying an ordinary seat thereon, by manipulating the hand levers 1G and 6l and the steering wheel (53. lVhen harvesting sugar cane, the'traction and steering wheels straddle the row and the bifurcated front part of frame 1 is positioned to receive the growing cane, the fingered conveyors 30 guiding the stalks into the machine and to the cutters 2S. As previously explained, before the cane is severed, it is engaged by the lower stripping brushes 42 and, consequently, immediately the stalks are cut otl' at the ground, the upward and rearward rotation of the strippers ltl causes the stalks to be carried upwardly and rearwardly in a substantially erect position with their tops uppermost, and at the same time the wire bristles of the brushes elfectually strip off all leaves adhering to the stalks.

The upward and rearward travel of the stalks caused by the rotation of the strippingl brushes and by the fact that the stalks are automatically passed from one set of brushes to another pair, eventually brings the tops of the stalks against the lower stretch of the apron 54 whose downwardly projecting arms .55 serve to assist in conveying the tops of the stalks rearwardly. The stalks are prevented from spreading by the guides 65. The topping cutters 49 having been adjusted on their shafts so that they will top the stalks as may be desired, the stalks which are being conveyed upwardly and rearwardly by the brushes 42 and the apron 54,' have thelr tops cutoff by said cutters 49. The position of these topping cutters 49 in relation to the cutting knives 28 and to the upward and rearward travel of the stalks is such that the tops of the shortest stalks will reach the apron 54 before encounteing the cutters 49 and consequently, all of the stalks, whether long or short, are automatically adjusted to bring their tops into proper relative position, by reason. of their encountering the apron 54 which serves as an abutment and because said apron by its travel, combined with the operation of the brushes 42, causes the stalks to be arrested and brought into proper relationship without in- `terference with the rearward travel thereof.

After the tops have been cut off by the cutters 49, the stalks are grasped by the toothed conveyer chains 5S and thereby carried to the extreme rear of the machine and dropped into a cart or receptacle which may be attached to the machine, or onto the ground.

In the provision of the means disclosed herein adapted for arranging or adjusting the stalks of varying lengths so that they may be topped at any desired and uniform distance from their upper ends, I do not restrict myself to the specific means set forth and shown. It is apparent that the severed stalks may first be disposed in any other than a substantially erect position, by throwing them rearwardly or transversely across the machine and that they then be engaged and acted upon by the novel arran ing or adjusting means.

i Itving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l 1. In a cane stripper, means for stripping the stalks diagonally thereof, in combination with means for directing the stalks in upright positionto said stripping means.

2. In a cane stripper, combined rotary lstrippers and feeders having their axes arranged diagonally to the stalks presented thereto, and thereby adapted to strip the stalks diagonally thereof.

3. In a cane stripper, forwardly and upwardly inclined rotary strippers adapted for stripping the stalks diagonally thereof when said stalks are presented thereto in upright position.

4. In a cane stripper, successive pairs of rotary strippers having their axes arranged diagonally to the stalks when said stalks are presented in upright position, the succeeding pairs being adapted to successively strip the stalks diagonally thereof.

5. In a cane stripper, forwardly and upwardlyinclined strippers arranged in substantially parallel pairs substantially one above the other and rotatable upwardly and rearwardly, adapted for stripping the stalks diagonally thereof after severance.

. 6. In a cane stripper, flexible means for stripping the stalks diagonally thereof, n

combination with means for directing the stalks in upright position to said stripping means.

7. In a cane stripper, combined rotary strippers and conveyers having flexible 'fingers or bristles and having their axes arranged diagonally to the stalks presented thereto, and thereby adapted to strip the stalks diagonally thereof.

8. In a cane stripper, combined strippers and conveyers having flexible fingers or bristles for simultaneously stripping the severed stalks diagonally thereof'and conveying them lengthwise and with their tops foremost and also in a general sidewise direetion.

9. In a cane stripper, successive pairs of rotary strippers provided with flexible fingers or bristles and having their axes arranged diagonally to the stalks presented thereto and the succeeding pairs adapted to successively strip the stalks diagonally thereof.

10. In a cane stripper, forwardly and upwardly inclined strippers having flexible fingers or bristles and arranged in substantially parallel pairs substantially one above the other and rotatable upwardly and rearwardly, adapted for stripping the stalks diagonally thereof when said stalks are presented thereto in upright position.

11.` In a cane stripper, a combined stripper and conveyer adapted for simultaneously stripping the stalks diagonally thereof and conveying them lengthwise and with their tops foremost and also in a general sidewise direction when presented thereto.

12. In a cane stripper, combined rotary strippers and eonveyers having their axes arranged diagonally te the stalks presented thereto and thereby adapted to simultaneously strip the stalks diagonally thereof and convey them lengthwise and with their tops foremost and also in a general sidewise direction.

13. In a cane stripper, forwardly and upwardly inclined combined rotary strippers and conveyers rotatable -upwardly and rearwardly for simultaneously stripping the stalks diagonally thereof when presented thereto and conveying them upwardly and rearwardly in a substantially erect position with their tops uppermost.

14. In a cane stripper, successive pairs of combined rotary strippers and conveyers havingr their axes arranged diagonally to the stalks presented thereto, the succeeding pairs being adapted to successively strip the stalks diagonally thereof and simultaneously convey them lengthwise and with their tops foremost and also in a general sidewise direction.

15. In a cane stripper, forwardly and upwardly inclined combined strippers and conveyer-s arranged in substantially parallel pairs substantially one above the other and rotatable upwardly and rearwardly, adapted for simultaneously stripping the stalks diagonally thereof when presented thereto andY-.onveying lthem upwardly and rearwardly in a substantially erect position with their tops uppermost. t

lll. .ln a cane stripper, combined flexible means for simultaneously stripping the stalks diagonally thereof and conveying them lengthwise of themselves with their tops foremost and also in a general sidewise direction when presented thereto.

l7.\1n a cane stripper, forwardly and upwardly inclined rotary strippers having Aflexible fingers or bristles adapted for stripping the stalks diagonally thereof.

le. ln a cane stripper, combined rotary strippers and conveyers having flexible fingers or bristles and having their axes arranged diagonally to the stalks presented thereto, and thereby adapted to simultaneously strip the stalks diagonally thereof and corn-'ey them lengthwise and with their tops forremost and also in a general sidewise direction. i

l). ln a cane stripper, forwardly and upwardly inclined combined rotary strippers and conseyers having flexible fingers or bristles for simultaneously stripping the stalks diagonally thereof and conveying them upwardly and rearwardly in a substantially erect position with their tops uppermost when presented in upright position thereto.

2l). in a cane stripper, successive pairs ol' combined rotary strippers and conveyors haring flexible fingers or bristles and having their axes arraneed diagonally to the stalks and the succeering pairs adapted to -:m ce-;si\'ely strip the stalks diagonally thereof and simultaneously convey them lengthwise and with theirl tops foremost and also in a general' sidewise direction i when presented in upright position thereto.

21. ln a cane stripper, forwardly and upwardly inclined combined strippers and romeveis having flexible fingers or bristles and arr anged in substantially parallel pairs substantially one above the other and rotatable upwardly and rearwardly, for simultaneously stripping the stalks diagonally thereof and conveying them upwardly and rearwardly in a substantially erect position with their tops uppermost when presented thereto.

22. ln a cane stripper, a combined stripper and court-,yer arranged and adapted to engage the stalksbe'l'ore severance and to simultaneously strip the severed stalks diagonally thereof and convey them upwardly and rearwardly in a substantially erect position with their tops uppermost.

E23. ln a cane stripper, forwardly and upwardly inclined combined rotary strippers and conveyers rotatable upwardly and rearwardly, arranged and adapted to engage the stalks before severance and to simultaneously strip the severed stalks diagonally thereof and convey them upwardly and rearwardly in a substantially erect position with their tops uppermost.

24. ln a cane stripper, forwardly and upwardly inclined combined strippers and conveyers arranged in substantially parallel pairs substantially one above the other and. rotatable upwardly and rearwardly, and arranged and adapted to engage the stalks before severance and to simultaneously strip the severed stalks diagonally thereof and convey them upwardly and rearwardly in a substantially erect position with their tops uppermost.

25. ln a cane stripper, combined flexible means arranged and adapted for engaging lthe stalks before severance and for simultaneously stripping the several stalks diagonally thereof and conveying them upwardly and rearwardly in a substantially erect position with their tops uppermost.

26. In a cane stripper, combined strippers and conveyers having HeXible fingers or bristles, and arranged and `adapted to engage the stalks before severance and to simultaneouslystrip the severed stalks diagonally thereof and convey them upwardly and rearwardly in a substantially .erect position with their tops uppermost.

27. ln a cane stripper, forwardly and upwardly inclined combined rotary strippers and conveyers having flexible fingers or bristles and rotatable upwardly and rearwardly, arranged and adapted to engage the stalks before severance and to simultaneously strip the severed stalks diagonally thereof and convey them upwardly and rearwardly in a substantially erect position with their tops uppermost.

28. ln a cane stripper, forwardly and upwardly inclined combined strippers and conveyers having flexible fingers or bristles and arranged in substantially parallel pairs substantially one above the other and rotatable upwardly and-rearwardly, and arranged and adapted to engage the stalks before severance and to simultaneously strip the severed stalks diagonally thereof and convey them upwardly and rearwardly in a substantially erect position with their tops uppermost.

29. ln a cane stripper and topper, the combination with means for stripping the stalks, of flexible means for conveying the stalks lengthwise and with their tops foremost and also in a general sidewise direction, a shield or abutment against which the tops of the stalks can be arranged or adjusted for topping, and means for topping the adjusted stalks.

30. ln a cane stripper and topper, the combination with means for stripping the conveying them lengthwise and with their tops foremost and also in a general sidewise direction, in combination with a shield or abutment against which the tops of the stalks can be arranged or adjusted for topping, and means for topping the adjusted stalks.

32. In a cane stripper and topper, combined strippers and conveyers having flexible fingers or bristles for simultaneously' stripping the stalks diagonally thereof and conveying them lengthwise and with their tops foremost, in combination with a shield or abutment against'which the tops of the stalks can be arranged or adjusted for topping, and means for topping the adjusted stalks..

33. In a cane stripper and topper, combined rotary strippers and conveyers having flexible lingers or bristles and having their axes arranged diagonally to the stalks, and

thereby adapted to simultaneously strip the stalks diagonally thereof and convey them lengthwise and with their tops foremost and also in a general sidewise direction, in combination with a shield or abutment against which the tops of the severed stalks can be arranged or adjusted for topping, and means for topping the adjusted stalks.

34. In a cane stripper and topper, forwardly and upwardly inclined rotary conveyers and strippers having flexible lingers or bristles for stripping and conveying the severed stalks simultaneously upwardly and rearwardly in a substantially-erect position with their tops uppermost, in combination with a shield or abutment against which the j tops of the severed stalks can be arranged or adjusted for topping, ping theadjusted stalks.

35. In a cane stripper and topper, rotary conveyers having flexible fingers or bristles and arranged in substantially parallel pairs for stripping and conveying the severed stalks lengthwise with their tops foremost and means for topand simultaneously in a general sidewise di-V rection, in combination with a shield or abutment against which the tops of the severed stalks can be arranged or adjusted for topping, and means for topping the adjusted stalks.

36. In a cane stripper and topper, forwardly and upwardly inclined conveyers and strippers having flexible fingers or bristles and arranged 1n substantially parallel pairs substantially one. above -the other, and rotatable upwardly and rearwardly for stripping and conveying the stalks simultaneously upwardly and rearwardly in a substantially erect position with their tops uppermost, in combination with a shield or abutment against which the tops of the severed stalks can be arranged or adjusted for topping, and means for topping the adjusted stalks.

37. In a cane stripper and topper, a traveling abutment against which the tops of the stalks can be arranged or adjusted. so

38. In a cane stripper and top er, a trav-3 eling abutment against which t e tops of the stalks can be arranged or adjusted, and means for topping the stalks after the have been adjusted, said abutment being a apted` to advance the stalks toward the topping means. y

39. In a cane stripper and topper, a travcling abutment against which the tops of the severed stalks can be arranged or adjusted for topping, said abutment having transverse projections at intervals along its length for conveying the tops of the stalks in the direction of its travel, in combination with means for topping the adjusted stalks. 95

40. In a cane stripper and topper, a traveling abutment against which the tops of the severed stalks can be arranged or adjusted for topping, in combination with guides on either side of said abutment for guiding the, 100 tops of the stalks to said abutment.

41. In a cane stripper and topper, a traveling abutment against which the tops of the severed stalks can be arranged or adjusted for topping, in combination with a rotary 105 cutter operable in a plane substantially parallel to said abutment and adapted for adjustment toward or away from said abutment, whereby the tops of the adjusted stalks can be severed at any desired and uni- 110 form distance from their upper ends, said abutment being adapted to present the stalks to the cutter. l

42. In a cane stripper and topper, forwardly and upwardly inclined combined 115 strippers and conveyers having flexible fingers or bristles and arranged in substanvtially parallel pairs one above another and 1n a plane substantially parallel to and below said abutment or apron and adjustable in their distance therefrom, and thereby vadapted to sever the tops of the adjusted stalks at any desired and uniform distance from their upper ends.

4-3. In a cane stripper and topper, the combination with a traveling abutment adapted to be engaged by and to adjust the tops of the severed stalks, of topping means toward ywhich the said abutment causes` the L stalks to travel, and rotary combined strippers and conveyers arranged and adapted toy present the stalks to the traveling abutment Miene@ and also in a general sidewise direction.

t5. ln a cane stripper, the combination with means for stripping the stalks, of rotary conveyers provided with flexible n-l gers or bristles and having their axes arranged diagonally to the stalks and thereby adapted to convey the stalks lengthwise with their tops foremost and also in a general sidewise direction. f ln testimony whereof, ll hereunto ax my signature in resenee of two witnesses.

FRNClIS M. COCKRELL, Jn. Witnesses:

lEiUsTAon L. Wnaimars, Renner Peron. 

